Use of Tracheal Organ Cultures for Bioassay of Aflatoxins

Abstract

Abstract Tracheal organ cultures from day-old chicks were used for the assay of aflatoxins. Ciliary epithelium in the organ culture was found to be highly sensitive to aflatoxins B1 and G1. Anatoxin B1, incorporated into the medium in which the organ cultures were established, readily caused distinguishable eytomorphological changes in 48 hr at a concentration of 0.2 μg/ml and complete cessation of ciliary movement at a concentration of 0.5 μg/ml. Anatoxin G1 produced the same effects, but at higher concentrations (0.5 μg/ml and 2.0–2.5μg/ml). The degree of cytomorphological changes of the ciliary epithelium in the organ cultures was proportional to the concentration of aflatoxins and the period of time exposed. A dose-response curve was developed for the period of observation. The technique is simple, reproducible, and inexpensive. The feasibility of developing this test system as a biological assay for the presence of aflatoxins and other mycotoxins in feeds and foodstuffs is being explored.